West Ham ... 0 West Brom ... 1 When Glenn Roeder took over as manager of West Ham last season, he confounded the doubters by guiding the club to seventh place after a sluggish start to the season.
With an exciting blend of youth and experience, there were genuine hopes of breaking into the top six this year. Now, bottom of the table and with one point from their opening three games at Upton Park, things are not looking good.
For all West Ham's chances and sustained pressure in the second half, Roeder has some work to do before Sunday's visit to Tottenham if this season is not to be one of struggle.
Early defeats against Manchester United, Arsenal and Leeds seemed to have confirmed the bookies suspicions that West Brom were set for a brief stay in the Premiership. But the return of Lee Hughes after a year at Coventry and the recent arrival of Jason Koumas has given them some quality.
Hughes formed a fine partnership with Jason Roberts, and West Ham's lumbering defence failed time and again to pick up their intuitive runs.
Roberts showed how devastating his pace can be midway through the first half.
Latching onto a pass from Phil Gilchrist, Roberts sped away from West Ham's central defenders and nonchalantly flicked the ball beyond a hesitant David James.
West Ham, going into the game without a win, looked to England midfielder Joe Cole for inspiration. The returning Paolo Di Canio looked well short of match fitness.
West Ham came out looking for a quick equaliser and almost got one when Frederick Kanoute nudged the ball goalwards from four yards, only for Russell Hoult to again make a fine save.
When Hoult did make a mistake, failing to get distance on a clearance and out of position, Gilchrist deflected Kanoute's follow-up wide.
WEST HAM: James, Repka, Schemmel, Breen, Winterburn (Dailly 86), Cole, Cisse, Carrick (Lomas 76), Sinclair, Di Canio (Defoe 76), Kanoute. Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, Pearce. Booked: Cole.
WEST BROM: Hoult, Balis, Gilchrist, Moore, Clement, Johnson, Wallwork, Gregan, Koumas (Sigurdsson 63), Roberts (James Chambers 86), Hughes (Dobie 50). Subs Not Used: Jensen, Dichio. Goals: Roberts 28.
Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).
